Some people love Windows 8’s user interface (UI), while others aren’t as thrilled by it. But it’s interesting to take a step back and look at early internal concepts of the Start screen, lock screen, Charms, snap, and the virtual keyboard from back in 2010.

During a presentation at UX Week 2012, Windows interface designer Jensen Harris – formerly of the Office team – showed off screenshots of “Pocahontas,” the codename for the first mockups of what would become Windows 8. The concepts were created for internal use at one of Microsoft’s “vision days” early on during the development of Windows 8, and while there are a few noticeable changes between the concept and the final product, most of the basic structure remained unchanged. This, of course, is one of the hallmarks of Steven Sinofsky, the former head of the Windows team, who liked to chart a course and stick to it unless absolutely necessary.

Personally, I’m glad that the Charms were simplified from eight options to five. The concept is just too confusing. Is there anything in these concepts that you wish had made it into the final product?